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Michael Adams vs Damian Lemos
Gibraltar Masters (2011), La Caleta GIB, rd 9, Feb-02
French Defense: Tarrasch Variation. Chistyakov Defense (C07)  ·  1/2-1/2

ANALYSIS [x]

FEN COPIED

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Kibitzer's Corner
Feb-08-13
Premium Chessgames Member
  FSR: The version of the game in Mega Database 2013, and also at http://www.365chess.com/game.php?gi..., has another 31 moves: 54. Rf5 Re6 55. Kg4 Kg7 56. R8f7+ Kg6 57. Rd7 Bc6 58. Rxg5+ Kf6 59. Rf5+ Kg6 60. Rg5+ Kf6 61. Rf5+ Kg6 62. Rd3 e4 63. Re3 Bd7 64. Rg5+ Kf6 65.f4 Re5+ 66. Kh4 Re8 67. Kg3 Bf5 68. Ra3 Re6 69. Kf2 Rd6 70. Ra5 Bg6 71. Rgb5 Bh7 72. f5 Kg5 73. Ke3 Rf6 74. Kxe4 Rxf5 75. Rxf5+ Kg4 76. Ke5 Bxf5 77. Ra4+ Kg5 78. Ra1 Bc2 79. Re1 Bd3 80. Rg1+ Kh6 81. Kf6 Kh7 82. Rg3 Bb1 83. Rh3+ Kg8 84. Rh2 Bh7 1/2-1/2

The omission of these 31 moves in CG.com's database is a shame, because we are thereby deprived of this piquant position after Black's 75th move, the <only> position in Mega's almost 5.5 million games where one bishop successfully holds off two rooks:


click for larger view

Despite his huge material advantage, White cannot make progress unless he wants to give up his rook on f5 and try to win a rook versus bishop ending. If he plays waiting moves (Rb5/c5/d5/e5) Black simply plays Bg6-h7-g6-h7 with a draw.

Manfred Zitzman, in a submission almost 40 years ago to Robertson Sillars' "Reader's Showcase" column in <Chess Life & Review>, once drew attention to a game of his where a similar position could have occurred, and proposed calling this situation "the Zitzman Theme." He was thereafter informed that composers had beaten him to the punch, having discovered this idea long ago. But in actual play it is a very rare bird indeed.

I have submitted a correction slip.

Feb-08-13
Premium Chessgames Member
  FSR: CG.com's Endgame Explorer shows <no> games where one bishop draws against two rooks. Endgame Explorer: B vs RR With the proper (untruncated) score, this is the one and only such game.
Feb-08-13
Premium Chessgames Member
  Phony Benoni: < FSR: CG.com's Endgame Explorer shows <no> games where one bishop draws against two rooks.>

That's because one bishop defeats two rooks! Well, if you have a few pawns to help out:

Gufeld vs Kavalek, 1962

Oct-31-14
Premium Chessgames Member
  MissScarlett: Lemos goes over the game. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CPc...
Nov-26-17  PhilFeeley: I haven't played it out OTB but what happens after 24. Rxc2? if 24...Bxc4 25. Rd8. What's the advantage of 23...Nxc2?
Dec-29-21  Stanco: Adams must have thought he wins the endgame either way here, but it turned out it's a tricky one!

What is interesting is that he still had the chance to get back on the winning rails even after empty 34.Ra6 if played 35.Ra7! Unbelievable.

However, 34.Rxb6 was the right take! And quite logical. White threatens to push the a pawn while targets g7 pawn and 7th rank at the same time. Black is forced to enter the following line: 34.Rxb6 Ra2 35. Rd6 g5 36. Rdd7 gxh4 37. Rxg7+ Kh6 38. Rh7+ Kg5 39. Rag7+ Kf4 40. Rxh4+ Ke5 Black is hopeless here, ie:
41. Rb4 Kd6 42. Ra7 Ke5 43. Ra5 Kd6 44. Rb6+ Ke5 45. Kh2 Kd4 46. Rb4+ Bc4 47. Kg3 f5 48. Rb1 Bd5 49. Re1 Kd3 50. Ra6 Kd2 51. Rb1 Bc4 52. Rd6+ Bd5 53. Rb4 Kc3 54. Rh4... It doesn't take anything abstract! All moves are natural.

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